In 1997
Albert Musher provided funds to establish a fellowship for studies in
international social welfare. Two fellows were appointed. Subsequently, Mr.
Musher reallocated those funds to support a broader range of charitable
purposes including general support of other Musher Program activities.
Accordingly, sufficient funds are no longer available to support this fellowship.
The fellowship will be resumed when funding becomes available. Contributions
are welcomed.

FELLOWSHIP FOR STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
WELFARE

The Willma and Albert Musher International
Fellowship was established at the Columbia University School of Social Work
in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Council Secretariat
to foster world economic and social objectives relevant to life betterment and
world peace. The Fellowship was to be awarded periodically to Columbia
University School of Social Work faculty, staff, or graduate students to
facilitate research or study pertaining to international social work policy or
practice. Recipients of the award were to be selected in consultation with
representatives from the Columbia University School of Social Work, the United
Nations Economic and Social Council Secretariat, and the Musher
Family.

On behalf of the United Nations Economic and
Social Council Secretariat on September 15,
1997 Dr. Margaret A. Kelley
wrote of Mr. Musher as follows:

"His life-long dedication to promoting
good will and the betterment of life for those in need was indeed touching. I am
delighted that he has agreed to establish the International Musher Program
Fellowship and I should like to assure you of the full collaboration of the
United Nations Economic and Social Council Secretariat."

The Columbia University School of Social
Work Alumni Newsletter (Fall 1997) published the following article regarding
the Musher Fellowship.

New Endowment for CUSSW/United Nations
Program

A gift of $100,000 from the Willma and Albert
Musher Philanthropic Fund has established and endowment held by the Jewish
Communal Fund to benefit the Columbia University School of Social Work. The
endowment will generate income for the support of an exciting and innovative
partnership between the United Nations Economic and Social Council Sectretariat
and the CUSSW - Willma and Albert Musher Program. A primary purpose of this
collaboration will be to achieve economic and social objectives that promote
world peace - a giant step forward in life betterment, the goal of the Musher
Program. The funds will be used for program support and an International Musher
Program Fellowship, awarded periodically to either faculty, staff, or graduate
students. In 1995, Mr. Musher, a great benefactor of the
School of Social Work, established both the Willma and Albert Musher Chair
in Social Work at CUSSW and the Willma and Albert Musher Program for Life
Betterment in honor of his late wife. Professor Edward J. Mullen holds the
Musher Chair and also directs the Musher Program at the School.

The ColumbiaUniversityRecord reported the establishment of the
Schoolís program with the UN and the Musher Fellowship in the following article
published December 5, 1997 (VOL. 23, NO. 11)

School of
Social
Work Teams Up with
the UN for Joint Program

Links Created for Research, Training and
Education

BY KIM BROCKWAY

Columbia's School of Social Work and the Division for Social Policy and Development of
the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs have embarked upon
a unique program initiative that will be officially launched in January 1998.

In an effort to "improve the
quality, effectiveness and efficiency of social policy and development
programmes in nations throughout the world," the two institutions aim to develop
cooperative linkages in the areas of research, education, program design and
professional development.

In conjunction with this
initiative, the Division for Social Policy and Development will be designated as
one of only two Educational Training Centers for the
School of Social Work.

In September, 1998, the Division
will serve as a field instruction site for
School of Social Work students who are doing graduate work that will lead
to the M.S.W. degree.

Joint research programs that
involve the School's faculty and doctoral students will address critical
worldwide problems concerning social policy and development. In addition, the
two organizations will co-sponsor a biennial United Nations Day for up to 500
participants that will examine important social policy, development and
international social welfare issues.

Ronald A. Feldman, dean of the
School of Social Work, said: "This program will be one of the most
innovative and exciting partnerships in social work education." The
collaborative program, he said, "will enable both organizations to significantly
strengthen their respective efforts to advance human well-being worldwide and to
improve training programs for the professionals who will be called upon to
address such critical challenges."

This initiative will receive
financial support from an endowment that was established in July by
School of Social Work benefactor Albert Musher. "By addressing the
potentially fruitful interrelationships among social work education and the
international work of the United Nations," observed Feldman at the time of the
$100,000 gift, "Mr. Musher has established a truly innovative precedent."

Selection Committee

Awardees were selected by a four person
committee composed of the United Nations Secretary of the Economic and Social
Council representing the United Nations Economic
and Social Council, the Director of the Musher Program, a designee of the Dean of the Columbia University School of
Social Work, and a member of the Musher family.

Fellows Selected

Two International Musher Program Fellowships have been awarded. The first
recipient was Samuel Cotton and the second was Billur Gungoren, at the time of
their selection both Ph.D.
candidates at the Columbia University School of Social Work. For additional
information regarding these Fellows select the links below.